After pairing with Palin, 'Dancing with the Stars' Mark Ballas goes maverick on debut solo CD

January 14, 2011|By John J. Moser, OF THE MORNING CALL

"I just got this bombarding of fans of Brandy and whatnot just like carving into me, like it's my fault," he says. "I'm like, 'Dude, I'm given a job, I'm given a partner, I'm told when to show up, when to leave, what to do, and I just do it. I pick the songs, I do the choreography and I design the dresses and I go out there and I dance. That's it.

"I have no control over votes, I have no control over who calls, I have no control over who stays and who gets eliminated. And I think some people aren't smart enough to figure that out and realize that dancers have no control — it's in their hands."

But Ballas says Palin's success boiled down to hard work. He says that of all the couples this season, "and maybe throughout all the seasons, she's one of the most improved from a non-experienced dancer."

"Every season you could have someone who has experience, like Nicole Scherzinger [of Pussycat Dolls], Mel B [of Spice Girls], [ice skater] Kristi Yamaguchi, Jennifer Grey, Maya," he says. "And when we have people like that, people just bitch and moan and complain, 'That's not fair, they have dance experience. … I want to see someone with zero dance experience do well.'

"Finally got what they asked for, [and the reaction was] 'That's not fair, she can't dance, she shouldn't be in the final.' And the only reason — the only sole reason — that she got the controversy is because her last name is Palin.

"If her last name hadn't have been Palin, she would have still done as well because she's sweet, she's kind, she's endearing, she was vulnerable, she had an amazing journey. She's a sweet girl, she's not her mom, she's not running for president. She's not like the Republican huge politician. She's just the daughter of one, and she's a great person and she tried really hard."

What: Dancers from 11th season of popular ABC-TV competition show will give a dance performance, then Ballas will sing an acoustic set from his upcoming solo debut album "Hurt LoveBox." There also will be a meet-and-greet signing session.